December 25 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
557 
lean-to unheated orchard and Peach house range at the upper part, 
where highly satisfactory crops of useful fruits are obtained, 
Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, and Nectarines. Though of con¬ 
siderable length the houses are low and narrow, yet the returns, 
judging by what I saw, would yield a very substantial profit on 
labour and outlay. The trees are planted out nearly in front of 
the house, but some are on the back wall, and all were equally 
prosperous. The Peach house is 130 feet long, in two sections, 
and a grand crop was obtained this year, the supply extending 
from the middle of August to the middle of October, without 
artificial means, though it is intended to introduce a little assistance 
in this respect. Fine evenly trained trees in good health, yet not 
too vigorous, were observed of Elruge, Lord Napier, Pineapple, and 
Violette Hative Nectarines, and Royal George, Grosse Mignonne, 
Walburton’s Admirable, and Noblesse Peaches. There also under 
glass Vines, Melons, and Tomatoes are extensively grown, without 
any apparent ill results from proximity to the sea. 
Besides the ordinary decorative plants under glass, Roses and 
Carnations are a feature out of doors with miscellaneous bedding 
plants, Lobelias succeeding admirably, serve to render the marginal 
borders gay, and in August the appearance was especially bright. 
The garden was altogether, owing to its situation, an astonishing 
•one, and with so many difficulties to contend with, Mr. Duffin 
•deserves much credit for the success achieved.—L. Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
s 
Blinds for Covering the Roof. 
Not only are blinds beneficial for shading during the summer, 
tout they prove invaluable during cold severe weather. Those of a 
heavier nature are necessary for winter, and will keep the tempera¬ 
ture of the house several degrees warmer than when the glass is 
fully exposed. The greatest difference is observable, however, 
during cold winds. From an economical point of view there is, 
perhaps, not much to be said iu favour of blinds, but for the 
benefit of the plants they cannot be too strongly advocated. By 
their use the overheating of the hot-water pipes to maintain the 
-desired temperature is often prevented. 
Odontoglossum House. 
In some structures where these are grown they are so saturated 
with moisture that when severe weather sets in and warmth in the 
pipes is necessary, the plants and the woodwork are never dry, 
water hangs upon them for days. This must and can largely be 
prevented by leaving the ventilators open a little at the top. 
'This necessitates the supply of more heat in the pipes, but the 
moisture that is evaporated has a ready means of escape, and the 
foliage of the plants will be found dry in the morning instead of 
dripping with water. As long as the moisture can be evaporated 
once during the day no harm results, but when it is allowed to 
hang about the plants several days in succession decay soon com¬ 
mences. 
PII ALiEN OPSIS. 
During severe weather these should not be suspended very near 
dhe glass, or serious injury may result. They will be perfectly 
•safe if they are 18 inches below the glass. Even at this distance 
if blinds are not used a few mats tacked over the roof outside 
where the plants are suspended will secure them against injury. 
Cattleya House. 
In cold severe weather the temperature of this structure may 
be allowed to fall to 55°, in fact it will be better for the plants 
than if the temperature is 5° higher. Considerably less harm 
■results from a slightly lower temperature than is the case of over¬ 
heating the pipes to maintain the requisite temperature. Less 
moisture will be needed during the time the temperature is lower, 
■or else the foliage of the plants may become spotted. A low tem¬ 
perature with a saturated atmosphere is a certain cause of spotting. 
Be careful that plants standing near hot-water pipes are not 
allowed to shrivel. Plants that are unduly dried by this means 
should be removed. 
Cypripedium insigne . 
Where this plant has been pushed on for some years in heat and 
is now past flowering, stand the plants in a cool house for a time 
where they can enjoy a season of rest. If introduced at once into 
a vinery or Peach house they will flower another season too early 
to be of much service. They are not needed before November, 
and we have found them doubly useful where they unfold their 
flowers after the middle of December. Give the plants a month’s 
rest and then start them into growth where they can have a tempera¬ 
ture of 50°.— Orchid Grower. 
Masdevallia Schrcederiana. 
There are not too many novelties amongst the more attractive 
Masdevallias, and though we have plenty of curiosities, yet some¬ 
thing more is required to brighten collections. A welcome addition 
is M. Schroederiana (fig. 74), which was sent by Baron Schroder 
from his great collection at The Dell on July 8th this year, and 
when exhibited before the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society a first-class certificate was awarded. The flowers 
are of good size, the three outer divisions nearly equal in size, but 
the two lower are rather the larger, edged with deep purple, and 
white in the centre. The sepaline “ tails ” are very long, recurved, 
and yellow, giving the flower a very distinct appearance. This 
may be expected to be utilised by the hybridisers, and ought to 
yield some novel results if it will cross readily with other allied 
species. 
WALL PEARS. 
With regard to “ Useless Pear Trees Made Useful ” (Journal of 
Horticulture , November 27th), I herewith send a few specimen 
Pears from the trees made useful. First to come under notice is 
Beurre Ranee. This tree is probably over thirty years old, with 
seven tiers of branches 40 feet long. Before this tree was root- 
pruned and fresh soil given ten years ago, the tree never bore any 
